The Daily Reveille - Fall 2012 Semester in Review

FOOTBALL: Tigers overcome arrests, injuries to produce winning season, p. 11

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Monday, December 3, 2012 • Volume 117, Issue 68

SEMESTER IN REVIEW FALL 2012

photos by THE DAILY REVEILLE

The Daily Reveille

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INTERNATIONAL Thousands attend anti-Nazi rally in Hungary to protest security policy BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Thousands attended an anti-Nazi rally Sunday in Hungary organized

by Jewish and civic groups to protest a far-right lawmaker’s call to screen Jews for national security risks.

Marton Gyongyosi of the farright Jobbik party said Monday in the legislature it was time “to assess ... how many people of Jewish origin there are here, and especially in the Hungarian parliament and the Hungarian government, who represent a certain national security risk.”

Napoleon’s coded Kremlin letter sold for 10 times its estimated price FONTAINEBLEAU, France (AP) — A secret code letter sent by French emperor Napoleon boasting that his multinational forces would blow up Moscow’s Kremlin has sold at auction Sunday for $243,500 — 10 times its estimated presale price.

The Museum of Letters and Manuscripts was finalizing its purchase of the Oct. 20, 1812, document with elegantly calligraphic ciphers.

The sale price, which includes fees, far outstripped the pre-sale estimate of $19,500.

Nation & World

JANOS MARJAI / The Associated Press

A participant wears a yellow Star of David during the Mass Demonstration Against Nazism protest Sunday in front of Budapest’s Parliament building.

North Korea expected to raise global stakes with long-range rocket launch SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is gearing up to fire a longrange rocket this month in a defiant move expected to raise the stakes of a global standoff over its missile and nuclear programs.

The North’s announcement Saturday that it would launch the rocket between Dec. 10 and Dec. 22 came as President Barack Obama prepares for his second term and as South Korea holds a presidential election.

It would be North Korea’s second launch attempt under leader Kim Jong Un.

Monday, December 3, 2012

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Military academy’s chapel hosts its first same-sex wedding for graduate

Brine company fined $100,000 over sinkhole says it is trying to fix issue

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Cadet Chapel, the landmark Gothic church that is a center for spiritual life at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, hosted its first same-sex wedding Saturday.

Penelope Gnesin and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, exchanged vows in the regal church in an afternoon ceremony, attended by about 250 guests and conducted by a senior army chaplain.

The two have been together for 17 years. They had a civil commitment ceremony that didn’t carry any legal force in 1999.

(AP) — Owners of a failed brine storage cavern say they’re working as fast as possible on a state order for work at the Assumption Parish sinkhole.

Spokesman Sonny Cranch says Texas Brine Co. lawyers will review a $100,000 fine ordered Saturday by state Conservation Commissioner James Welsh.

Welsh says the company’s too slow in three areas: installing air montors and improved ventilation in slab homes around the sinkhole; installing a system to prevent more waterway contamination; and drilling new wells to burn off natural gas.

Wanted blogger surrenders to police after airing negotiations online BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore blogger wanted on a courtissued warrant surrendered without incident to authorities late Saturday after broadcasting on Internet radio his negotiations with police who had surrounded his home.

Police said 47-year-old Frank James MacArthur emerged late Saturday evening. He had remained inside his home when law-enforcement officers sought at around 6 p.m. to serve a warrant issued in June for a probation violation stemming from a 2009 gun case. Authorities said MacArthur had missed a court hearing.

JEFF SHENG / The Associated Press

Brenda Sue Fulton (left) and Penelope Gnesin (right) exchange wedding vows Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Term “Asperger’s disorder” removed from revised diagnosis manual CHICAGO (AP) — The now familiar term “Asperger’s disorder” is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be given a scientific-sounding diagnosis called DMDD. But “dyslexia” and other learning disorders remain.

The revisions come in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide used by the nation’s psychiatrists. Changes were approved Saturday.

Gazebo destroyed by Isaac rebuilt in time for annual holiday celebration MANDEVILLE (AP) — Mandeville’s iconic gazebo was in ruins after Hurricane Isaac.

But The Times-Picayune reports repairs by city work crews have it back in shape in time for the annual Winter on the Water celebration.

The city-sponsored holiday event is set for Dec. 8 and includes a parade along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain that ends at the gazebo.

Weather

PHOTO OF THE SEMESTER

TODAY Partly Cloudy

78 57 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

77 57 THURSDAY RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

Mike the Tiger’s eyeball gazes into the sunset on Nov. 8 in his habitat.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

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The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

ADMINISTRATION

page 3

University without permanent administrative leaders Chris Grillot Staff Writer

The fall semester began with a dearth of permanent University leaders, and the spring semester will begin with even fewer.

Both the system president and chancellor positions are still open, though they may be combined into one position Dec. 7 when the Board of Supervisors votes again on the initiative.

The LSU System has been without a president since April when the Board removed former System President John Lombardi from his position in April. Shortly after, former Chancellor Michael Martin announced he was leaving the University for the chancellorship at the Colorado State University System.

William “Bill” Jenkins has been filling the position of interim

system president since May and chancellor since August.

Come next semester, the University will also be lacking a vice chancellor and chief financial officer for Finance and Administrative Services.

Eric Monday, the current vice chancellor and CFO for Finance and Administrative Services, accepted a position last week as executive vice president for Finance and Administration at the University of Kentucky.

The University has not announced a replacement.

In September, Board member Blake Chatelain, who is chairman of the Board’s Presidential Search Committee, said that the University may see a new leader by May. At the time, the Board was waiting on a follow-up report from Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, a

firm hired to help the LSU System realize its strengths and fix it weaknesses.

“We are waiting to start the formal search process until the Board has finished the organization study that is being conducted...by AGB,” Chatelain said.

AGB presented its follow-up report in October, and the Board voted to consolidate the chancellor and system president position.

But the vote came unexpectedly and Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope reported it to the attorney general, citing an open meetings law infraction.

The Board subsequently sent out an email saying it would reconsider the vote at its regular Dec. 7 meeting.

“Timing is a tough one to answer — our goal will continue to be April/May, but certainly we may find it takes a bit longer,” Chatelain

said in an email Nov. 28.

He said the Board is accepting applicants until Jan. 31, 2013.

In recent months, media outlets have speculated the Board will appoint Gov. Bobby Jindal’s adviser, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development Stephen Moret, to the position. Jindal appointed 15 out of 16 of the supervi- MICHAEL MARTIN sors, which could allow the goverChancellor nor to have greater sway in future leadership decisions.

Moret avoided questions about his interest in the position in a September email saying, “I’m totally focused on doing the best job that I can for the people of Louisiana in my current role.”

Contact Chris Grillot at cgrillot@lsureveille.com

ERIC MONDAY

CFO for Finance and Administrative Services

JACK HAMILTON

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

JOHN LOMBARDI System President

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Painted Posse picture creates national controversy

Students pleased with outcome Alyson Gaharan Contributing Writer

The University sparked a national controversy by airbrushing painted crosses off the shoulders of Painted Posse members in a photo broadcast to University students in October, but now the tension has died down, and much has happened since the South Carolina game when the photo was taken.

Although the University was within its rights to edit the photo, Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications Herb Vincent said the University will avoid using similar photos in the fu‘We saw an ture.

“It could outpouring have been taken of love and that we were support from perturbed with the University,” across the said Painted country.’

Posse Captain political Cameron Cooke and senior political science senior science Cameron Cooke.

“But instead, it came across as, ‘Hey, it was a mistake but has been righted, and we can move on now.’”

Cooke said the group never guessed the story would be featured on news sites such as Fox News, Yahoo and The Huffington Post, but Painted Posse members are pleased with how the situation turned out.

“We had so many emails and calls. We saw an outpouring of love and support from across the country,” Cooke said.

In the months following the controversy, the Painted Posse has indeed garnered national support and has seen a significant increase in interest from students wanting to be part of the group.

Here’s a timeline of some of the big events surrounding the Painted Posse controversy: Saturday, Oct. 13 — The Painted Posse photo was taken during LSU’s contest against South Carolina.

Tuesday, Oct. 16 — The University sent an email containing the edited photo.

Wednesday, Oct. 17 — The Daily Reveille published the Painted Posse story.

Local news site NBC33 published a story about the Painted Posse, in-

cluding a video interview with Posse members.

Thursday, Oct. 18 — Baton Rouge news site WBRZ and Campus Reform published a story about the Painted Posse.

Monday, Oct. 22 — National news sources Fox News, The Blaze, Huffington Post, CBS, The Associated Press and Yahoo News posted stories about the Painted Posse.

Tuesday, Oct. 23 — The Painted Posse delivered a press release.

Posse, do not agree with the University’s recent decision to airbrush crosses out of the photo of some of our members. We also respect the opinions of those who do not agree with us. Despite what happened, our main focus is to represent Christ.”

WAFB published a story on the Painted Posse’s press release.

NBC33 did a follow-up story about the Painted Posse’s response to the controversy.

Wednesday, Oct. 24 — Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Joe Alleva published a letter on LSUsports. net apologizing for editing the photo, which he said was an error in judgment. Alleva said similar edits will not be made again and apologies had been made to the Painted Posse.

Contact Alyson Gaharan at agaharan@lsureveille.com

“We, the members of the Painted

DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Joe at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

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page 4

CONSTRUCTION

Tiger Stadium makeover not done

Ben Wallace Senior Contributing Writer

Tiger Stadium has seen more construction activity this semester than it has altogether since the dawn of the 2000s.

Shiny windows, flashing LED lights and a western plaza heavily populated by pillars, plaques and statues welcomed football fans this season into LSU’s iconic stadium as pieces of the beautification puzzle that the Tiger Athletic Foundation started putting together two years ago with the windowfundraising campaign.

The windows arrived first, followed shortly thereafter by the western plaza project and then the LED lights along the stadium’s northern façade.

But the makeover is far from over.

Construction fences surround both the north and south sides of the stadium and will remain in both locations at least through the spring semester.

The north stadium plaza project has already begun and will eventually create a fan-friendly concrete plaza much like the one on the stadium’s western side, complete with high archways for entry gates and wrought-iron fencing to barricade the sidewalks during the traditional band march and player walk down Victory Hill on game days.

The south end zone expansion project will have much larger implications. About 6,000 seats, consisting of approximately 3,000 club level seats, 1,500 general public seats and 60 suites will be added, along with two giant HD screens on either side of the suite sections, said Senior Associate Athletic Director Eddie Nunez.

The north stadium plaza project should be completed by the kickoff of the 2013 football season, while the south end zone project will take at least another year, Nunez said. The additional seating should help push Tiger Stadium’s capacity close to the century mark.

“You’re going to be right at a hundred thousand,” Nunez said, which would make Death Valley the seventh largest stadium nationally and third in the Southeastern Conference, slightly behind the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama.

Tiger Stadium opened in 1924 with a seating capacity of about 12,000. This year, it broke its single-game attendance record during the Alabama game on Nov. 3 with a total of 93, 373 raucous fans.

Contact Ben Wallace at bwallace@lsureveille.com

photos by TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

[Top, bottom] Construction continues on the south endzone of Tiger Stadium. The renovations are expected to be completed by the beginning of 2013’s football season.

Monday, December 3, 2012

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

page 5

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Board consolidates system president, chancellor position Cope accuses Board of voting illegally Chris Grillot Staff Writer

The semester for the LSU Board of Supervisors was filled with ups and downs in approving measures affecting the LSU System and the University.

Most recently, the Board came under fire after Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope sent a letter to Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell on Nov. 5, accusing it of illegally voting on a measure at its October regular Board meeting.

Toward the end of the meeting, the Board unexpectedly called to vote on a measure to consolidate the system president and chancellor position, following a presentation by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

AGB had been hired by the Board to assess the LSU System’s strengths and weaknesses.

Louisiana open meetings law requires public notification of a meeting and a meeting agenda to be posted for the public no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting, and the public must be allowed to register one hour prior to the meeting to comment.

The presentation had been listed under the “Chairman’s Report” on the meeting’s agenda, while all other initiatives voted on were listed under “Approval of Consent Agenda Items.”

Cope said this prevented the public from having adequate time to comment on the consolidation.

“A decision like that is a significant item,” Cope said Nov. 7.

Assistant Attorney General Emalie A. Boyce wrote the Board in response to Cope’s letter, expressing concern over the way the vote was conducted.

Immediately after, Board Chairman Hank Danos said the Board would reconsider the vote at its regular December meeting.

Before making negative news, the Board approved the LSU Athletics Fund Transfer Policy on Sept. 7.

Under the policy’s conditions, LSU Athletics will donate $7.2 million a year to the University for five years.

The fund will support

academics, research, public ser- clearly dependent upon our convice and allow both the University tinued success.” and LSU Athletics to have more Vice Chancellor and certainty when Director of Athdeveloping operletics Joe Alleva ating budgets, ac- ‘[The LSU Athletics said the policy cording to Interim the first of its Fund Transfer Policy] was System President kind among other and Chancellor is so important. It’s universities.

William “Bill” Cope apclearly dependent on plauded Jenkins. the meaOver the past our continued success.’ sure. four years, the “It integrates state has cut 43.6 Athletics into the percent from the University in a William “Bill” Jenkins University’s apway no one else Interim System President propriations. To is doing,” Cope and Chancellor ease the cuts, said in September. the University has boosted self- “It’s an example of LSU leading generated funds by about $103 the nation.” million, or more than 54 percent, mainly through tuition increases. “[The LSU Athletics Fund Contact Chris Grillot at Transfer Policy] is so important,” cgrillot@lsureveille.com Jenkins said in September. “It’s

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POLITICS

Monday, December 3, 2012

National, international elections dominate most news coverage Obama, Holden chosen by EBRP Megan Dunbar Staff Writer

Baton Rouge residents chose many incumbents in November’s election, including East Baton Rouge Parish’s majority vote going to President Barack Obama and Mayor-President Kip Holden.

But next to re-electing a president and mayor, the current runoffs from the fall election include two judges running for the same seat in the Louisiana Supreme Court.

In an eight-contestant race for the judgeship, Democratic Circuit Judge John Michael Guidry and Republican Circuit Judge Jeff Hughes won out, and will continue to battle for votes until the runoff election Dec. 8.

Hughes ran many television spots stating his general views on issues, an act he defended by citing the 2002 United States Supreme Court ruling that stated candidates for judicial election are allowed to discuss their views, due to the rights outlined in the First Amendment.

Before the ruling, and even now, judges taking positions is seen as a possible ethical complication.

Guidry campaigned by speaking to church groups, and promoted his tradition of being a “fair and impartial judge,” he told news outlets.

Political science professor James Garand said earlier this semester that the turnout of the Dec. 8 election will depend on who is able to mobilize more voters, but he expects Hughes will win.

Garand also weighed in on the national election drama, saying as a nation, the United States has become more polarized as years have passed, and this contributes to the feeling on either side of the race that if the other side comes to power, it will be “a complete and unmitigated disaster.”

He said candidates had no room for compromise on their platforms.

and

Then you will

hiring

This was evidenced after the election in the angry secession petitions and lack of compromise over the issue of the nation’s fiscal cliff problem.

Garand said Louisiana has been “limping along,” and a national default could “cut the legs out from under our state.”

Garand said while the situation is problematic, it’s “not as disastrous as it sounds.”

Currently, a bipartisan group of senators is working on a solution.

Third parties could be the answer to the growing gap between Americans, although, according to Garand, they are not relevant on the national scene.

Young Americans for Liberty President and University student Kyle Aycock said Sept. 28 that laws and the current governmental setup make it difficult for third parties to gain traction in the nation’s political system.

This election proved that true, with much-hyped Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson garnering less than 1 percent of the national vote.

Regardless of the outcome of elections, political science professor Belinda Davis said it’s important for each person to vote.

In terms of different outcomes, an almost-overlooked vote from Puerto Rico determined a majority of citizens desire statehood status.

In the past, votes for statehood have not been in the majority. In fact, there was no clear majority in the choice between remaining a commonwealth, becoming a state or declaring independence.

The statehood question on the ballot came in two parts, the first asking whether citizens were happy with the current status as a commonwealth, and the second as a follow-up to those who answered no.

The choices for the discontented were statehood, sovereign free associated statehood and independence.

The second question’s results included the 61 percent of voters causing a stir. If the votes of people who are content with the current system are added in,

they have the majority over those wanting statehood.

While this could affect reception of the numbers, results still exist, and the potential for statehood is still possible.

CAROLYN KASTER / The Associated Press

Contact Megan Dunbar at mdunbar@lsureveille.com

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Monday, December 3, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

The Daily Reveille

page 7

DIVERSITY

Student tech fee funds University events stress diversity equipment, projects Wilborn Nobles III

Senior Contributing Writer

equipment updates. OAE requested $148,000 to buy 120 computers Contributing Writer for its testing center, said AssisThe Student Technology Fee tant Director of Computing David Oversight Committee authorized O’Brien.

“The old computers that we’re several significant purchases this trying to replace are still running semester.

At a Sept. 24 committee meet- Windows XP,” O’Brien said.

Committee members also voting, members discussed the possibility of allowing University de- ed to fund an iPad checkout pilot partments to request unallocated program through Middleton Library tech fee funds for discipline-spe- and to purchase five more charging cific purchases. However, the com- stations for mobile phones.

Mike Smith, director of Techmittee decided to save the leftover nical Services at money for use by ITS, reported to the University Information Technology ‘For the prior 11 years, committee Nov. 28 that one of the new Services and the departments and stations had been Office for Assessment and Evalua- colleges had been able to set up in Patrick F. tion. come to this committee Taylor Hall.

Smith also Robert Kuhn, vice provost and and request funding for said ITS has been discussing a posassociate vice technology.’ sible campus-wide chancellor of the software license Office of Budget agreement with and Planning, said Robert Kuhn Adobe.

Right the tech fee genVice provost and associate vice now the license erates nearly $4 chancellor of the Office of would cost about million each year.

Budget and Planning $500,000, but ITS Prior to budget concerns that arose in 2010, about plans to continue talks with Adobe, $1 million was set aside to help he said.

Vice Chancellor of Student individual departments pay for materials that benefit students in their Life and Enrollment Kurt Keppler asked the committee Nov. 28 specific areas of study, he said.

“For the prior 11 years, depart- to review and consider funding the ments and colleges had been able to technological needs of the Olinde come to this committee and request Career Center, which is set to open funding for technology,” Kuhn by January 2014. Keppler said potential purchases may include prosaid.

Committee members ex- jectors, screens, video kiosks and pressed hope at the September computers.

Eric Monday, vice chancelmeeting that discipline-specific awards will be reintroduced next lor and CFO for Finance and Adfiscal year. Without the funds, some ministrative Services, told the departments are struggling to keep committee at the same meeting $190,635 of uncommitted tech fee up to date with technology.

Dean of the College of Mu- funds remain. sic and Dramatic Arts Laurence Kaptain said in 2009, a $76,000 discipline-specific award enabled Contact Olivia McClure at the college to purchase items like light panels, microphones and podomcclure@lsureveille.com casting kits. He pointed out having current technologies is important because much of the work done in music and arts-related careers is now computerized.

“The iPhone wasn’t invented until five years ago,” Kaptain said.

“So if you’re looking at how that’s changed things and how people expect to be able to interact with professors and do some of their learning through mobile technology, that’s too long without an update.”

Kaptain said in the past three years, CMDA has bought equipment with leftover teaching funds, donations and ticket income that would normally pay for scholarships and travel expenses.

University students also lost their $5 of free printing this semester. At a Tech Fee Committee meeting on Oct. 22, members voted to suspend the $140,000 program, making more unallocated dollars available to spend.

At the same meeting, the committee approved nearly $300,000 for ITS and OAE projects and Olivia McClure

Diversity is listed among the four goals of the University’s Flagship 2020 agenda, and minority students have done much to cultivate their community’s culture this semester.

Organizations like the Native American Student Association, or NASA, and the Vietnamese Student Association, VSA, sought to increase awareness of their cultures through social events.

NASA held a traditional powwow demonstration where students interacted with the Native American performers during their dances.

Skye Byrd, digital arts junior and Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana member, wanted to show students Native Americans still continue many of their tribe’s traditions. Byrd, vice president of NASA, danced in the Nov. 14 powwow demonstration wearing traditional regalia.

The VSA served food to the homeless in its first community service event Sept. 30 at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge.

In the spring, VSA plans to serve traditional Vietnamese food to its members.

The African-American Cultural Center hosted the sixth annual Multicultural Student Leadership Conference Oct. 28. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the conference framed discussions on diversity to improve students’ understanding of the cultures around them.

At the conference, the Black Male Leadership Initiative addressed the statistic that few black men attend college. The Black Male Leadership Initiative, or BMLI, suggested African-American college students could serve as mentors to minority students in the K-12 system.

BMLI quickly followed up on its advice by hosting the second annual LSU Preview Day on Nov. 8.

Preview Day allowed more than 100 young African-American males to visit the University to learn about the college experience.

The African-American Cultural

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

Students watch as Coushatta tribe member Leland Thompson dances Nov. 14 during the Native American Student Association’s dance demonstration at Free Speech

Center hosted events like Umoja on Aug. 19 and Harambee on Sept. 9 to highlight diversity among the student body.

Political participation among minority students was also prevalent during the presidential election.

The Black Student Union, or BSU, discussed each candidate’s position Oct. 21 while addressing the increasing debt from student loans in a struggling economy.

Kendale Thompson, political science senior and BSU vice president, said he voted for President

Barack Obama because Obama’s plan would provide more opportunities for students.

For Estefania Reichard, international studies senior and president of the Hispanic Student Cultural Society, Obama’s stance on health care was more favorable to her than that of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Contact Wilborn Nobles III at wnobles@lsureveille.com

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ENVIRONMENT

Monday, December 3, 2012

University oak tree has 50/50 chance to survive

Pruning may begin in January Danielle Kelley

Senior Contributing Writer

Experts say a University oak has a 50 percent chance of survival after it was struck by lightning earlier this semester.

After the winds and rains of Hurricane Isaac subsided, campus seemed to have prevailed without serious damage.

But after official inspection, one tree was left scarred from the storm. Lightning gashed the tree’s trunk that measures about 10 feet in height and one foot in width.

The live oak stretches over sidewalks in the Quad in front of Coates Hall. It used to shade students, but now, its limbs are bare and frail.

“As soon as we noticed, within a day or two, we took the appropriate actions to help the tree,” said

Fred Fellner, assistant director for landscape services.

The University’s arbor crew treated the tree for fungal and insect infections, injected the soil with minerals, regulated its watering and swept the base of the tree of all competing vegetation.

The crew also installed copper wire in other oak trees to protect them from future storms and lightning.

Arborists took samples of the tree Friday to look for viable tissue, or green in the center of branches.

“We’re looking for life,” Fellner said. “We know we’ve got some growth in the center of the tree, but all the rest of the tree is defoliating.”

Fellner said after an analysis, the crew may prune its branches to where the viable tissue ends in January or February.

“It would be a misnomer to say it would ever get back to its full health. Our hope is to save the tree, to have it, but smaller,” Fellner said. “It won’t be as spreading

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

University arborist Blane Tullier installs copper wire in live oak trees in the Quad on Sept. 26.

and as vigorous as it was, not for … five to 10 years down the road.”

But there is a chance of death.

“Right now I think it’s a

50/50 proposition. Any time a tree defoliates after a lightning strike, it’s not a good sign,” he said.

“Nourishment is not coming up to

the leaves. Water is not coming up. … The products of photosynthesis are not coming out.”

Fellner said the oak is 80 to 90 percent defoliated.

He said the tree’s property value is between $60,000 and $70,000, and it is endowed in honor of Charles E. Severance Sr. and Winifred Loudon Severance.

The University has not charged the endowment for the treatments because it does not want to deplete it. These treatments are considered routine maintenance.

“Should this tree be lost, we will take it down, grind the stump, and as quickly as possible, we will plant the largest tree [we can find],” Fellner said. “If [the oak] were gone, it would leave a big impression. … They are a considerable asset to the University.”

Contact Danielle Kelley at dkelley@lsureveille.com

DIVERSITY

Internationally diverse students succeed on campus Groups increase interest, acceptance Alyson Gaharan Contributing Writer

In just one semester, the University’s diverse students made strides toward greater involvement, acceptance and overall success on campus.

Saudi Arabian students made their presence known at the Student Involvement Fair by wearing traditional Saudi dress and chatting with curious passersby about what their culture is about.

“Our main goal is to show Americans and especially LSU students our country and our

culture,” said petroleum engineering senior and Saudi Club Cultural Secretary Ibrahim Al Sowayigh.

The club brought University Saudi students together for Saudi National Day and members said although showing their culture to others is important, building a community for Saudi students to feel at home on campus is important, too.

The International Cultural Center worked hard to make international students feel at home at the University despite diverse backgrounds.

The ICC tailgates brought international and domestic students together to have fun and enjoy a quintessential American and University tradition.

President of the International Student Association Ruoxi Chen said the tailgates were successful and wants them to continue for years to come.

International students had fun this semester, but also worked hard.

Petroleum engineering and geology senior Citra Inaray, who is originally from Indonesia, utilized campus resources like Career Services to work toward her goal of finding a job before her December 2013 graduation.

After successful experiences attending workshops, informational sessions, networking receptions and the Career Expo, Inaray feels optimistic about her future.

The University’s LGBTQ

Reveille

community also made strides this semester, putting on Rainbow Rush and celebrating National Coming Out Day, just two of many events that highlight the actions of involved students actively working toward increased LGBTQ rights.

The University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs debuted updates to the Safe Space Campaign, an advocacy and support system that works to make campus a comfortable environment for students, faculty and staff regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

“When I came in August, I did an assessment and saw some ways we could improve the program,” said LGBTQ Project

Coordinator Chad Freeman, who presented the updates Saturday.

The University’s African American Cultural Center held a Kwanzaa event to educate the community about the importance of heritage and family values.

“During this time of year, we think about the connections we have with family and the ancestors that we miss,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life and College of Education professor Darrell Ray. “Our connections drive us and push us, and we are excited to progress and move on to better days.”

Contact Alyson Gaharan at agaharan@lsureveille.com

Monday, December 3, 2012

ROTC

The Daily Reveille

page 9

Army ROTC freshmen complete their first semester

the day with a lot of energy, she said she’s often tired during the second half of the day.

In August, the Army ROTC She said every day is a new held its freshman orientation. Un- class experience for her, and she like in the past, this year’s orienta- is learning more about the Army. tion included both scholarship reMalozovsky said she has been cipients and students not receiving able to get to know other students scholarships. because of the smaller classes.

Scholarship and Enrollment She said because she is a Officer Capt. William Conger said sophomore and this is her first the orientation changed so the two semester in the ROTC, she has groups would no longer be sepa- been able to compare school with rated but instead and without it. have the opportuMalozovsky said ‘I underestimated nity to foster relaher first the amount of energy although tionships. two semesters Biochemistry [ROTC] would take of college were sophomore Julia easier because away.’’

Malozovsky said all she did was being in ROTC is study biology and Julia Malozovsky different from regchemistry, ROTC biochemistry sophomore ular classes that has been an enjust require studyjoyable and new ing because of the energy required. experience.

ROTC has a different atmosphere The freshmen had to comand is mentally challenging, but plete two minutes of pushups, two she said it has allowed her to have minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile a deeper appreciation for things. run as part of the orientation. SeEvery other morning, she nior cadets encouraged and gradwakes up at 5 a.m. for physical ed each of the freshmen as they training, with formation begin- completed each portion of the test. ning at 5:45 a.m.

“This is not boot camp,” Con“I underestimated the amount ger said. of energy [ROTC] would take Malozovsky said she was away,” she said. afraid the older cadets would yell Although she usually begins at the freshmen.

Shannon Roberts Contributing Writer

“I thought they were going to single me out,” she said.

Malozovsky’s family is from Russia, where women are not usually considered fit for the army, so she said she did not originally tell them about joining the ROTC. “They didn’t believe me the first few times I told them,” she said. “Then finally, they found one of my ROTC forms, and it was just total chaos.”

Malozovsky said she’s already taken her physical training test for the semester, which involves the same exercises she took at the beginning of the year.

Students have to complete as many pushups and sit-ups as they can in two minutes for each. They also have to run two miles in a given time period; Malozovsky said girls had to complete it in 19 minutes.

Running was the hardest part of the physical fitness test for Malozovsky. She said running is not her strength, especially in cold weather.

“I still hate running,” she said.

AUSTIN BENNETT / The Daily Reveille

Contact Shannon Roberts at sroberts@lsureveille.com

Undeclared freshman Amanda Devine completes a two mile run Aug. 16 during ROTC Freshman Orientation.

page 10

DONATIONS

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

Law Center receives largest gifts in history in energy law.” The remaining $800,000 will create a “challenge fund,” which will match future “significant donations to the law school to encourage those gifts.”

Laborde entered the UniverDanielle Kelley sity in 1940 as an undergraduate, Senior Contributing Writer but was unable to finish school in The Paul M. Hebert Law four years because he was drafted Center received its largest single into the Army in 1942. After servdonation and largest institutional ing, Laborde returned to school gift in its history this semester. to finish his undergraduate and Law Center begin law school. alumnus John Laborde said ‘I hope that it will be Laborde pledged he hopes his doan inspiration to not nation will better to donate $2 million in early Nobeonly my own family, Louisiana vember to the cause of its enerbut the young people gy influence. center’s new energy law program “It gives me from many, many launched this personal pride and other families across pleasure for it to year.

Students can be servthe country who will hopefully now earn their ing a purpose for Juris Doctor- honor this as something the state of Louiate or Master of LSU and worthwhile in their siana, Laws degree from the [students],” the LSU John P. he said. “I hope lives.’

Laborde Energy that it will be John Laborde Law Center. an inspiration to Law Center alumnus and donor “I see it as not only my own our mission of family, but the the state’s flagship law school to young people from many, many produce the future leaders of both other families across the country the industry and government who who will honor this as something are knowledgeable,” said Law worthwhile in their lives.”

Center Chancellor Jack Weiss.

Preis & Roy, PLC law firm “Law students ... increasingly are of Lafayette, New Orleans and going to want some focus to their Houston made the $250,000 enstudies that enhances their ability dowed professorship investment to get a really good job.” in mid-November.

Weiss said $1.2 million of the The gift will pay part of donation will be used to create “a professor Jeffrey Brooks’ salary, new double distinguished chair Weiss said. The money the law

$2 million donated to Energy Law Center

school would have spent on his salary will now go to support the center’s 27 Trial Advocacy and Moot Court teams and externship programs, where students can work for credit.

The Law Center’s National Moot Court Team placed second in this year’s regional competition, and it will advance to the national championship in New York City in January, according to the Law Center’s website.

“These [programs] help our students hit the ground running when they graduate,” Weiss said.

“The income from the endowment is used to support the activities of the professor or the school program.”

Edwin Preis is a 1972 graduate of the Law Center, and Lane Roy is a Tulane University Law School alumnus. Nearly half of the firm’s attorneys are LSU Law Center alumni.

Contact Danielle Kelley at dkelley@lsureveille.com

Read more about this semester’s events at lsureveille.com: LSU Student Government completed 26 initiatives and plans to implement new programs in 2013.

A University professor continues her research on older employees in the workplace.

LSU Greek Life voted in a new fraternity and added a new sorority this year.

Sports

Monday, December 3, 2012

page 11

Conquering Adversity LSU in FOOTBALL

Chick-fil-A Bowl vs.

Clemson Alex Cassara Sports Writer

top-25 poll, and in the eyes of many, it severely hurt the Tigers’ hopes of returning to the National Championship Game.

After participating in a drug rehabilitation program in Houston, Texas, Mathieu re-enrolled in classes at LSU, turning down multiple opportunities to play at Football Championship Subdivision schools and immediately sparking speculation about his potential return in the 2013 season.

Speaking on ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt Show in the week prior to LSU’s 14-6 loss at Florida, Miles did not rule out a possible return for

No. 9 LSU will travel to Atlanta to face No. 14 Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31, appropriately summing up the Tigers’ tumultuous season.

Hours before the bowl matchups were officially announced, 247Sports’ Shea Dixon, before divulging the Tigers’ destination, tweeted, “Get the feeling #LSU fans are soon to get some news they don’t want to hear.” Sophomore punter Brad Wing confirmed the news and announced the pairing from his handle shortly after.

Optimistic speculation saw the Tigers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium, a familiar and favorable venue, but Georgia’s play in the SEC Championship Game secured the conference’s bid in the Capitol One Bowl. The Cotton Bowl took instate Texas A&M and Heisman candidate Johnny Manziel, leaving LSU for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

“We look forward to a great matchup and a competitive game in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against a very talented team from the ACC,” said LSU coach Les Miles, who said Wednesday that playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl “would be fine,” in the school’s official news release.

Clemson (10-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is No. 6 in the NCAA in points per game (42.3) due

SEASON, see page 18

BOWL, see page 23

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU head coach Les Miles pumps up his team Nov. 23 before the game against Arkansas at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Tigers’ season shaped by dismissal, injuries Spencer Hutchinson Sports Contributor

The 2012 LSU football team reported to fall camp three months ago boasting a preseason No. 1 ranking, five preseason All-Americans, a Heisman Trophy finalist and a colossal chip on its shoulder after a National Championship drubbing in 2011.

Twelve games, two losses and one high profile dismissal later, the No. 9 Tigers (10-2) wait for their last game, which will end a season full of unexpected twists.

Expectations were high for LSU in 2012 as

11 starters returned from the 2011 season, with many Tiger fans eagerly anticipating a new and improved Tiger offense led by junior transfer quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

But many Tiger fans’ expectations were derailed Aug. 10, when LSU coach Les Miles announced Tyrann Mathieu had been dismissed from the team.

“We have a standard that our players are held to and when that standard is not met, there are consequences,” Miles said at the time of the dismissal.

Mathieu’s exit resulted in the Tigers’ dropping to No. 3 in the Week 1 Associated Press

Saints, Tigers don’t meet lofty expectations MIC’D UP MICAH BEDARD Sports Columnist August seems like forever ago.

The LSU football team possessed more overall talent than it did in 2011, returned a Heisman Trophy finalist and had the savior of its passing woes answered in the form of quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

Down in New Orleans, the Saints were supposed to rally behind the seasonlong suspension of coach Sean Payton and make yet another deep run in the NFL playoffs to stick it to big, bad commissioner Roger Goodell.

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan.

As LSU students quietly file off

of campus after finishing their exams, the campus couldn’t seem more aloof.

Students are just ready to pack up their things and return home for presents and relaxation after a semester of academics. But that wasn’t the case this time last year.

I remember last December like it was yesterday.

LSU just secured a 13-0 regular season and was poised to roll over Alabama in the BCS Championship Game. Instead of a morose, gloomy atmosphere, it felt like the whole campus was just going to hunker down until the game.

No one was worried about having to return for the spring semester the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Everyone in Baton Rouge had Jan. 9 circled on the calendar.

The Who Dats weren’t having too bad of a season on their own.

With Payton at the helm, New Orleans was 8-3 after 12 weeks.

Saints loyalists were ready to ride quarterback Drew Brees into the playoffs with hopes of snagging the franchise’s second Super Bowl.

Although the outcomes of both seasons didn’t turn out the way LSU and Saints diehards planned, you can’t deny the anticipation and excitement that filled the Quad and stately oaks before the 2011 fall semester concluded.

Flash forward to December 2012, and you get an entirely different picture.

The Tigers will find themselves bowling somewhere other than a BCS game. New Orleans won’t even get a taste of postseason play after the Atlanta Falcons intercepted Brees five times last Thursday, EXPECTATIONS, see page 23

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) watches the scoreboard during the closing moments in the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans on Nov. 25.

The 49ers won 31-21.

BILL HABER / The Associated Press

page 12

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

NEW ADMINISTRATION, AUGUST

A SEMESTER IN PHOTOS This semester has been a tumultuous one for the University. Hurricane Isaac and a bomb threat rocked the campus psyche. The Daily Reveille looks at the most memorable moments that influenced campus.

AUSTIN BENNETT / The Daily Reveille

William Jenkins was hired as the University’s interim chancellor after Michael Martin left for Colorado State University. Jenkins is serving as the chancellor and as the LSU System president.

Hurricane Isa campus. The

MULTIPLE STUDENTS HIT

BY CARS, OCTOBER

LSU LOSES TO FLORIDA, OCTOBER 6

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger reacts to the final score Oct. 6 during the Tigers’ 14-6 loss against the Gators in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

TYRANN MATHIEU ARRESTED, OCTOBER 25

A Baton Rouge fire department paramedic assists Jinjuta Jirawatjunya after she was struck by a car on the corner of Nicholson and South Stadium Drives on Oct. 10. Four students were hit by cars on campus in three weeks.

LSU FALLS TO ALABAMA, NOVEMBER 3

JOHNNY JONES ERA BE

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

Former LSU star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is escorted into a police car Oct. 25 at the Baton Rouge Police Department Second District Police Station bound for East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Mathieu and former LSU football players Jordan Jefferson, Derrick Bryant and Karnell Hatcher were found in The Venue at Northgate with 18 grams of marijuana.

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

Les Miles walks off the field Nov. 3 after the Tigers’ 21-17 loss to Alabama in Tiger Stadium. LSU was the highest-ranked two loss team after the game.

CA

LSU head coach Johnny Jones watches h LSU vs. UC Santa Barbara game in the P was a former LSU assistant coach and p son, who left for a job at TCU.

Monday, December 3, 2012

HURRICANE ISAAC, AUGUST 30

The Daily Reveille

page 13

BOMB THREAT, SEPTEMBER 17

LSUPD ARRESTS BOMB THREAT SUSPECT, SEPTEMBER 19

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

aac swept through the Gulf Coast, causing limited damage on University cancelled classes from Aug. 29 to 31.

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

Students evacuate campus Sept. 17 after a campus bomb scare. All classes and activities were cancelled, and Louisiana Emergency Services unit’s bomb squad technicians searched every building on campus.

TWO STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER, OCTOBER 8

The LSU Police Department arrested Nicole Lea Boover, 19, after she attempted to shoot her mother in New Orleans on Oct. 8.

Around 6:30 a.m., LSUPD received a call from the step-father informing the police that Boover had attempted to shoot her mother several times at a New Orleans residence, according to a news release.

LSUPD arrested a second student, Nathan Andrew Yuhas, 18, in connection with the case. Court reports obtained by Nola.com say Boover attempted to kill her mother for inheritance money. Yuhas said during police interviews that Boover offered him $50,000 to help her.

EGINS, NOVEMBER

ATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

his players Nov. 9 during the PMAC in Baton Rouge. Jones player. He replaced Trent John-

William Bouvay Jr., was arrested for calling in the bomb threat to the University on Sept. 17. The state charged Bouvay for reporting the fake threat and for communicating false information of a planned bombing on school property.

LSU BEATS SOUTH CAROLINA, OCTOBER 13

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman running back Jeremy Hill scores a touchdown Oct. 13 during the Tigers’ 23-21 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks in Tiger Stadium.

STUDENT DRIVES CAR INTO LAKE, NOVEMBER 16

MILES SIGNS SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT, NOVEMBER 28

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

LSUPD arrested general business student Jeffery C. Henley Jr., 20, early Nov. 16 after he drove a black BMW through a guardrail and into the lake behind Miller Hall. He was traveling with two unnamed passengers, one male and one female, at the time. They were transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

LSU head coach Les Miles speaks about his 7-year contract renewal Nov. 28 at the Football Operations Building. Numerous news outlets reported that Arkansas offered Miles a deal to become its head coach in the 2013 season.

The Daily Reveille

page 14

FOOTBALL

Monday, December 3, 2012

Unsung LBs sparked stout LSU defense Young DBs faced growing pains Chris Abshire Sports Writer

The 2012 LSU defense rarely stuck to the script.

With a green secondary and a dominant defensive line, the first months of the season were supposed to bring growing pains against the pass, and the linebackers were considered a question mark.

The Tiger defense looked much different than expected, yet nearly as effective in reality.

Spurred by timely turnovers and a familiar bend-don’t-break style, LSU remained among the elite defenses in the country while allowing 16.9 points and 296.2 yards per game.

Both those figures place LSU third in the Southeastern Conference among the top dozen nationally, behind only Alabama and Florida.

The template to get there looked familiar under defensive coordinator John Chavis, but the key pieces weren’t the usual suspects.

Instead of an imposing defensive line or a lockdown secondary leading the charge, it was a pair of unheralded junior linebackers in Kevin Minter and Lamin Barrow who stepped to the forefront this fall.

Minter, who is a finalist for the Butkus Award, led LSU with 111 tackles — among the top five totals in the Les Miles era — including 13.5 for a loss.

A cramping issue marred Minter’s otherwise legendary 20-tackle day in a 14-6 loss to Florida, as the Gators immediately scored both touchdowns upon his exit.

Barrow was his running mate every step of the way, finishing second on the team with 92 tackles to go along with 5.5 for a loss and two fumble recoveries in his first season as a starter.

“That’s what we’ve waited for from those guys,” junior safety Eric

Reid said last month. “I joked with them in the offseason that I didn’t want any runners reaching us in the secondary. They made sure of that pretty often.”

When runners or receivers did reach the secondary, it spelled more trouble than usual with three freshmen (Jalen Collins, Jalen Mills and Micah Eugene) playing significant snaps there.

The young unit, lacking a senior in the two-deep, outperformed expectations early while quieting the Heisman-hyped Johnny Manziel, corralling Washington slinger Keith Price and rattling South Carolina’s Connor Shaw.

Then November hit.

LSU allowed three consecutive 300-yard passing games to finish the season, escaping all three with victories.

“I really felt this year, three games into it, our team changed numbers,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Key players were not there.

There was an opportunity for young guys, true freshmen, to step in the fold and play and be counted on. To see the future evolve for us in this year really was pretty special.”

Few will remember the secondary lapses of those games, though.

The lingering image of the Tigers’ young secondary may be Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron picking apart the unit on a gamewinning 72-yard touchdown drive in 43 seconds, capped by Mills’ illadvised blitz on the 28-yard screen pass that effectively ended LSU’s championship hopes.

That sequence was just a microcosm of the defense’s only glaring issue this season.

The Tigers allowed six touchdowns in the final two minutes of a half, sometimes negating otherwise brilliant efforts and earning Chavis criticism for a soft prevent scheme.

Alabama scored a touchdown in the final two minutes of each half, while Texas A&M and South Carolina used late touchdowns to make LSU sweat after leading by two scores.

“It’s something where we have young players that are going to

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior linebacker Kevin Minter (46) slams into Arkansas junior wide receiver Javontee Herndon (19) during the Tiger’s 20-13 win against the Razorbacks on Nov. 23.

play great and young players that will play ‘I didn’t know that’ or ‘I forgot that’ or ‘I didn’t make that play,’” Miles said. “We’re going to continue to coach technique, alignments and assignments, so that will change.”

What the defense slightly lacked in stinginess, it made up for with another ball-hawking season.

The Tigers forced 31 turnovers, including 18 interceptions, ranking second in the SEC. Flipping the field was necessary, because the LSU offense put the defense in more precarious situations this season.

Five opponents’ touchdowns resulted from drives that began on LSU’s half of the field after a Tiger turnover.

The defensive line remained

the constant, with junior defensive end Sam Montgomery finishing fifth in the SEC with seven sacks while junior tackle Bennie Logan helped limit foes to 101 rushing yards per game.

That consistency made it a quiet year on the line, a welcome change from the upheaval that marked the rest of the defense.

“We have a reputation to defend here,” Montgomery said.

“There’s no ‘if’ or ‘but’ about having a great defense at LSU. You hit the snags along the way — maybe a few more this year — but we held on and kept the [reputation] strong.”

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @AbshireTDR

Spend your

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The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

MEN’S BASKETBALL

page 15

Tigers race out to a 5-0 start under new coach Coleman, O’Bryant lead team

Chandler Rome Sports Writer

In former LSU coach Trent Johnson’s first year at the helm, the Tiger basketball team raced out to an 8-0 start en route to a regular season Southeastern Conference title.

Johnny Jones is doing his best to replicate that.

Jones has his first Tiger team sitting at 5-0 after a thrilling

72-67 victory against Seton Hall on Thursday in the Big East-SEC Challenge, where it overcame a 16-point second half deficit.

After facing four non-BCS teams that some considered lowly to begin his tenure, Jones said Thursday’s contest will serve as a benchmark going forward.

“It’s really great for me because it’s something that I can really point to, regardless of what night it is,” Jones said. “We’ll look back on this night, the position that we were in and the opportunities that we had.”

Bringing an up-tempo offense to Baton Rouge, Jones

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore guard Anthony Hickey (1) moves past Seton Hall guard Brian Oliver (22) to lay it in Thursday during the Tigers’ 72-67 victory against the Pirates in the PMAC.

has given the Tigers more freedom to launch the outside shot – something desperately needed with such an undersized team.

“I think with their style of play, the way that they’ve embraced it, our fans have been good,” Jones said.

The Tigers have gotten a spark from junior college transfer Shavon Coleman, who leads the Tigers in scoring while coming off the bench.

Standing only 6-foot-5, Coleman is tasked with playing out of his usual wing position in the post against taller, bigger competition.

“At practice, I guard [7-foot3 senior center] Andrew [Del Piero] and [6-foot-9 sophomore forward] Johnny [O’Bryant III], and I try to work my way through,” Coleman said. “I just have to get tougher and play through that.”

Coleman and O’Bryant pace the Tigers offensively through five games, as Coleman leads the team with 17.4 points per game and O’Bryant behind him chipping in 12.5.

Sophomore guard Anthony Hickey has overcome offcourt issues to anchor the Tiger

perimeter, where he averages 5.2 assists per game and 4.4 steals.

Suspended during the Tigers’ exhibition win against ArkansasMonticello and held out of the starting lineup against Mississippi Valley State for what Jones termed “not taking care of his business off the court,” Hickey said the adversity has only drawn him closer to his team.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” Hickey said. “People are going to say what they want to say, but my teammates have my back. That’s all I need is my teammates.”

O’Bryant shook off an earlyseason calf strain to come alive in the last two Tiger victories, registering double-doubles in both contests.

Jones praised both Coleman and junior guard Andre Stringer as sparkplugs off the bench, calling them both “capable of being starters” and praising their willingness to sacrifice minutes for the team.

“I’m hopeful that they can continue playing that way and still continuing that attitude that they’ve had when they come in the game because both of them

are impact players and difference makers,” Jones said. “I’ve been really pleased with both.”

This season has also seen the emergence of Del Piero, a former walk-on whom Jones awarded a scholarship before the season.

Known as “Tuba” because of his former stint with the Golden Band from Tigerland, Del Piero has set career-highs in points, minutes played and rebounds in the first five games, earning his first career start Saturday against the Pirates.

“It’s because of his play and how he’s performed and what he’s been able to do in the games that earned him the opportunity [to start],” Jones said. “I’m so happy for him.”

The Tigers will look to keep the momentum as they take on Chattanooga on Dec. 11 in the PMAC, before making a threegame road trip.

Contact Chandler Rome at crome@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 16

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Monday, December 3, 2012

LSU adapting to completely revamped roster

Bria Turner Sports Contributor

The LSU women’s basketball team lost six players from last year’s squad, but current players are stepping up to help the Lady Tigers work toward success this season.

After two blow-out exhibition victories against Xavier and North Alabama, LSU (3-2) won its home opener with a narrow 72-70 win against Wichita State.

Sophomore guard Sheila Boykin, who LSU coach Nikki Caldwell calls a quiet asset, made her first career start against Wichita State.

“Sheila is player that doesn’t necessarily show up in the box score, you’re not gonna see a line of 20 and

12,” Caldwell said. “But she does a lot of things that gives us energy whether it’s a hustle play or taking a charge, coming up with a loose ball.”

During the first road trip of the season, the Lady Tigers dropped two in a row at Hampton and No. 25 Georgetown. Free throws and fouls were issues for the Lady Tigers during the trip.

“What really hurts is when a team is shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line and they’re able to score a third of their points from the free-throw line,” Caldwell said. “…

You can’t go on the road and shoot 53 percent from the free-throw line.”

The Lady Tigers bounced back from their winless road trip by capturing the title at the Florida International Thanksgiving Classic,

securing the program’s 800th win in the process.

To start the tournament, the Lady Tigers knocked off No. 12 West Virginia 71-63. Freshman guard Danielle Ballard tallied 25 points, eight rebounds and five steals against West Virginia. Caldwell said Ballard “graduated to another level” during that game.

Junior guard Theresa Plaisance was named the MVP of the tournament and Plaisance, Ballard and senior guard Adrienne Webb were named to the all-tournament team.

The Lady Tigers became the fourth program in Southeastern Conference history to reach the 800-win milestone.

Plaisance has completed double-digit scoring for the last four

games, and earned her first career double-double this season with 18 points and 11 rebounds at Hampton.

“Theresa Plaisance has really stepped up her play as a go-to player for us,” Caldwell said.

During the early signing period, LSU received letters of intent from top-25, 5-foot-10 guards Raigyne Moncrief and Jasmine Rhodes.

Moncrief is ranked No. 18 in the US

by ESPN Hoop Gurlz, which is the highest ranking player to commit to LSU since Allison Hightower in 2006.

Caldwell notes that the team will progress as the season continues.

“This team is learning each and every day how to play with each other and know where we need to

place the ball … to be successful,” Caldwell said. “They understand what our goal is — one game at a time, one possession at a time, and they know that each win is critical to the future of our program and where we want to be in March.”

Caldwell said there are good parts in each game, but they are sometimes counteracted with the negative aspects. She said for the Lady Tigers to be successful, they have to mesh all those factors during two halves of each game.

“There is fight in this team,” Caldwell said. “We just have to put it together for 40 total minutes.”

Contact Bria Turner at bturner@lsureveille.com

CLUB SPORTS

Club sports feature individual and team accomplishments

Marcus Rodrigue Sports Contributor

The men’s soccer club made its first ever appearance in the National Campus Championship Series with a 9-1-1 record and a Region IV South title. The Tigers opened group play with a 1-1 tie against Colorado School of Mines, and they were knocked out of the first stage with a 0-4 loss against eventual champion Michigan State.

Senior captain June No said the team was hindered by injuries and several missing players who simply couldn’t make the trip.

Though LSU made a quick exit from the national tournament, No said competing at nationals was a step in the right direction for the program.

“Although our results were not as good as we wanted it to be, it was definitely a great experience for the players and the team

as well,” No said. “Hopefully, this will be a routine where LSU men’s soccer continues to advance to nationals year in and year out.”

The LSU wakeboarding team got its feet wet by starting off the semester with a second place overall performance at the Lafayette meet, but it placed seventh overall at the Shreveport meet. Sophomore LSU wakeboarder Nick Vaccari has enjoyed individual success this year by placing first in the open di-

vision at both Louisiana Collegiate Wake Tour meets.

In the realm of student organizations, LSU quidditch players Brad Armentor and Sarah Kneiling took their talents to London this summer to compete for the U.S. national team at the quidditch world cup.

“We learned a lot about how the international teams play,” Kneiling said. “But we also just got a better feel for quidditch on

the national level, which is important for playing those teams in the future.”

On the intramural side of things, the men’s intramural soccer championship featured a variety of former college soccer players in a match that went down to a 9-8 penalty kick shootout.

Contact Marcus Rodrigue at mrodrigue@lsureveille.com

Not your Parents’ Place Anymore

“GOPHER” IT

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

FOOTBALL

page 17

VOLLEYBALL

Special teams builds on Tigers’ SEC West streak over last season’s success Tyler Nunez

Sports Contributor

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) bounces off an Arkansas defender during the Tiger’s 20-13 win against the Razorbacks on Nov. 23.

New footballs cause challenge

balls LSU used last season went out of production.

“It’s a little different ball; it flies different,” Alleman said. “It’s something we had to get used to, but then again, we’re not going to Trey Labat blame it on something like a ball.”

Sports Contributor Kickoff rules also changed this Despite losing return man ex- year, leading to a change of strategy traordinaire Tyrann Mathieu before in covering opposing teams’ kick the season, the special teams unit returns. was again a strong suit for the No. Touchbacks now are placed on 9 LSU football team. the 25-yard line as opposed to the Sophomore wide receiver 20.

Odell Beckham Jr. provided a spark “We try to let them know when in the punt return game, taking two we’re going to kick it deep and punts back for touchdowns on the when we’re going to kick it shalseason. low so we can cover,” said LSU Beckham struggled at times coach Les Miles. “But it’s the unexduring the seapected there that’s son, but has seen an issue. They’re ‘[Beckham] is an his production insupposed to go crease as the cam- amazing player, and he down 100 percent paign has wore on. showed up at a critical on each one, so I “[Beckham] is think there’s some time for us.’ an amazing player, of that, that gives and he showed up a return team some Sam Montgomery at a critical time advantages.” junior defensive end for us,” said junior LSU’s prowess in the redefensive end Sam Montgomery. “He let people know cruiting world lends its hand in that he’s still that guy that he was covering kickoffs, as the Tigers can field a unit full of world-class athwhen he first came here.”

After establishing itself as one letes to run down the kicks.

“I can’t say I’m trying to do of the best kicking units in the country last season, this year’s kicking anything but hit a touchback, since a return is always dangerous,” game has slightly regressed.

Senior kicker Drew Alleman said sophomore kickoff specialist missed a total of eight field goal at- James Hairston. “But we have the tempts this season, up from last fastest athletes in the country, just in case.” season when he missed only two.

Sophomore punter Brad Wing cited the new footballs as the reaContact Trey Labat at son behind his troubles. Alleman was forced to use them after the tlabat@lsureveille.com

In a season filled with inconsistency and a slew of unexpected obstacles, the LSU volleyball team did not attain all of its preseason goals, but its coach couldn’t be more proud.

The Tigers, who finished the season 12-17, failed to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division for the first time since 2004 and will not play in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

LSU’s struggles began with a difficult non-conference schedule, during which it played four Top-25 teams in its first six games. Each of these matches resulted in the Tigers being swept in straight sets.

Adding to the Tigers’ early-season woes, they went almost an entire month into the season before getting a chance to play in front of a home crowd. The Tiger Classic, their regularly scheduled home tournament, was played in Houston in an attempt to avoid Hurricane Isaac.

LSU also struggled with injuries throughout the season, most notably a high ankle sprain suffered by senior libero Meghan Mannari that forced her to sit out of the Tigers’ first six conference games.

But LSU coach Fran Flory made it clear that this season should be considered far from a total loss for the Tigers.

“As a coach, the most you can ask from a team is that they play hard for you and they stay true to what you’re trying to accomplish,” Flory said. “... The key to this team is they don’t have any quit in them. ... I wouldn’t trade this team for anything.”

The tigers met a number of individual goals were met this season.

Mannari and senior defensive specialist Sam Delahoussaye each reached 1,000 career digs, becoming the 12th and 13th players in program history to reach the milestone respectively.

“Four years really does fly by,” Mannari said in a release after reaching the milestone. “… My coaches, I couldn’t thank them any more. They’ve given me a great

AUSTIN BENNETT / The Daily Reveille

Junior middle blocker Desiree Elliott (4) and sophomore setter Malorie Pardo (14) block the ball Nov. 4 during the Tigers’ 3-2 victory against Ole Miss.

four years.”

On the offensive side, senior outside hitter Madie Jones became the 19th player in program history to post 1,000 career kills and sophomore setter Malorie Pardo became just the eighth Tiger to dish out 2,000 career assists.

Jones was named to the AllSEC Second Team after leading the Tigers offensively with 389 kills and a 3.64 per set average. “[Jones] has been an outstanding student-athlete in all aspects of our program for the past four years and has enhanced the tradition of our program,” Flory said in a news release.

LSU is saying goodbye to four

seniors – three of whom were regular starters this season. In a news release after LSU’s final match, Flory said the seniors contributed to the team in a way that was impossible to explain and that they helped pave the way to success for the younger members of the squad.

“The bottom line is our young team grew up a little bit,” Flory said in the release. “We still [have] some growing up to do. This team will get better, and we’ll be back.”

Contact Tyler Nunez at tnunez@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 18

GOLF

Monday, December 3, 2012

Men’s, women’s squads have room to grow Lawrence Barreca Sports Contributor

The 2012 fall campaign was a bit of a roller coaster ride for both the men’s and women’s LSU golf squads.

Headed by coach Chuck Winstead, the men’s program had plenty of growing to do over the course of the season.

Without a senior presence in the lineup, the Tigers regularly sent underclassmen into the fire.

But LSU seemed to handle it well, finishing first in two of the squad’s four competitions.

SEASON, from page 11

Mathieu in 2013.

“I think this is a very legitimate chance that he would have a happy ending,” Miles said.

Any flickering hopes of a possible return were extinguished when Mathieu and three other former LSU players, Jordan Jefferson, Karnell Hatcher and Derrick Bryant, were arrested for marijuana possession in late October.

However, the blows to LSU didn’t end with Mathieu’s dismissal.

Beginning early in camp, when junior offensive tackle Chris Faulk suffered a season-ending knee injury, LSU began to be plagued by injuries.

In the first few weeks of the season, LSU lost three starters to injuries, including Faulk, junior

Players like sophomores Curtis Thompson, Stewart Jolly and Myles Lewis and freshman Zach Wright could be seen golfing next to junior teammate Andrew Presley in the majority of the team’s tournaments.

Presley, Thompson and Jolly all finished first overall individually at one point in 2012, proving the program has a bright future.

Winstead credited the program for bringing the younger players along at a fast pace.

“We have a way that we go about developing our players,” Winstead said. “The ones that

really work hard on the areas that we define for them have been able to see a nice increase in their ability and thus a lower scoring average.”

The men’s squad also made news on the recruiting front, as Brandon Pierce of Covington and Eric Ricard of Shreveport are prepped to join the team next season. Pierce is the No. 10-ranked recruit in the nation for the Class of 2013 in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings, while Ricard is Golfweek/ Sagarin’s No. 15-ranked recruit.

The Lady Tigers competed in four tournaments in 2012, though

they would finish no higher than eighth in any competition.

Under the direction of coach Karen Bahnsen, LSU trotted out a young lineup, with only one senior on the roster.

Bahnsen looked to junior Lindsay Gahm and Swedish sophomore Madelene Sagstrom to help push the program forward.

“Lindsay Gahm and Madelene Sagstrom are the two leaders on our team,” Bahnsen said. “I’m expecting big things out of them, and now we’re just looking for the younger [golfers] to step up.”

Even with the poor finishes

in competitive play this season, Bahnsen is encouraged about the future.

“Three of our five starters are new girls,” Bahnsen said. “They’ve moved up every single day. We wanted to work on our short game and on making more putts. We wanted to start having confidence and believing in ourselves.”

Both the men’s and women’s squads will return to competitive play in late February.

offensive guard Josh Williford and junior running back Alfred Blue.

“With the number of injuries and the attrition we had, I really feel like this team accomplished a lot, and they continue to get better,” Miles said in a news conference last Wednesday.

Mathieu’s dismissal and LSU’s early season injury woes forced the Tigers to rely on young players early and often in the 2012 season.

Overall, LSU freshmen made 31 starts, with many inexperienced players making important contributions to the Tigers’ season.

After multiple shifts along the offensive line, replacing Faulk and Williford was left in the inexperienced hands of freshmen tackles Trai Turner and Vadal Alexander.

Freshman running back Jeremy Hill was also thrust into the spotlight

after Blue’s injury, and Hill took full advantage of the opportunity.

Hill has since started four games and is the Tigers’ leading rusher with 651 yards, 10 touchdowns and three games with more than 100 yards.

Inexperienced but carrying lofty expectations, Mettenberger started the season slower than many LSU fans had expected.

Prior to the start of the season, Miles assured fans that the Tigers’ offensive game plan would be more balanced than in previous seasons because Mettenberger had the talent to handle a heavier passing load.

But in the early stages of the season, LSU spectators were treated to more of the same offense as the Tigers relied heavily on its stable of running backs. Mettenberger struggled, throwing multiple goal line interceptions and failing to

consistently connect with receivers.

Mettenberger finally found his footing in the rematch of last season’s National Championship Game when Alabama traveled to Tiger Stadium on Nov. 3. He passed for 296 yards — his highest total of the season — as the Tigers nearly pulled off an upset against the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

Since the Alabama game, Mettenberger has delivered the productive passing attack many had predicted at the beginning of the season, passing for at least 200 yards in the Tigers’ final four regular-season games.

But despite Mettenberger’s recent success and the efficient play of young talent, the Tigers still came up short of their preseason goal, which is always to compete for a National Championship, according to Miles.

“I would never have taken a 10-2 final [regular season record],” Miles said. “But as it played out, I felt like this team continued to improve and continued to get better and really wants to be a quality football team.”

A shared second-place finish in the Southeastern Conference Western Division and a season-ending starting lineup without a ball-hawking Honey Badger was not how many expected the Tigers’ 2012 season would end.

But with one more game awaiting them, the Tigers will have one last chance to write their own ending to the 2012 script.

Contact Lawrence Barreca at lbarreca@lsureveille.com

Contact Spencer Hutchinson at shutchinson@lsureveille.com

STAY AWARE. SAVE A LIFE.

Monday, December 3, 2012

The Daily Reveille

page 19

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 20

Monday, December 3, 2012

Good News and Bad News Louisiana lawmakers must balance business and people

This inequality follows a trend in both the state and the nation as a whole that has been building for the past several decades, according to The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Between the late 1990s and the mid-2000s, the income of Louisiana’s poorest 20 percent of people did not grow at all, while the richest fifth’s income increased

by 17 percent.

The telling thing about the CBPP’s report is that while the difference between Louisiana’s richest and middle fifths is even with the national average, the richest-to-poorest inequality is so high.

Relatively, our poor are poorer than nearly anyone else’s.

Of course, correlation does

not imply causation. A good climate for building business does not mean the poor have to suffer. But when the state’s priority is to cut taxes that would pay for welfare and food stamps in order to attract business owners, you can’t really be surprised at the statistics.

Attracting more business to Louisiana is necessary for the state’s future, and Jindal and company have done a commendable job of it. Before the entire country fell into a recession, Louisiana was one of the fastestgrowing state economies, and thanks to Jindal’s policies, we are moving steadily back toward the same growth.

Looking at the state’s future, there’s plenty to be optimistic about.

But is it worth sacrificing the well-being of our poorest citizens, some of the poorest in the country, for the promise of a bright and plentiful future?

State lawmakers need to reevaluate their priorities. While the poorest 20 percent of Louisianans wait for the new jobs and higher wages that new businesses should theoretically bring, they currently make about $16,900 yearly per household. That’s about the federal definition of poverty for a household of just two.

Lawmakers need to find solutions that help the poorest citizens while still allowing businesses to grow. It’s possible to expand the safety net without killing the

Michigan (slightly smaller than LSU). The goings were definitely tough, especially when the Big Three hit bankruptcy. Between 2004 and 2005, out of state tuition jumped drastically increasing my bill from an estimated $19,000/yr to $28,000/yr. The track and field team was cut as well as several majors (Industrial Design was one of them).

You talked a lot about U of M, but keep in mind there are a TON of public universities in Michigan. Northern, Central, Western, Eastern, State, University of, Tech, Wayne State, Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley, 2

Bakers, Ferris State, Lake Superior State....and those are just off the top of my head. U of M has the advantage of being the flagship with a lion’s share of state appropriated funding, but let’s keep in mind that most the schools I mentioned have over 10,000 students (MSU actually has the largest oncampus population in the nation).

Oh yeah, state of Michigan only offers an equivalent of TOPS to ONE city of 75,000 people?

You may think U of M has done a great job staying afloat with endowments, but the rest of the schools haven’t been so lucky.

Tuition increases of 7-10% a

year happened more than once. If budget cuts and tuition increases weren’t enough, the job situation is a lot more grim. Unemployment in the state of Michigan was over 14% when I started looking for post-graduation work (August 2009). Unemployment currently sits at 9% for the state compared to Louisiana’s 7%.

Want to know what helped my college out a whole lot? Large fundraising campaigns and tuition hikes. LSU is unlikely to fundraise anything unrelated to Tiger Stadium, so expect tuition to climb.

Yes, we have oil here. The oil industry in Louisiana correlates

BUT HE MEANS WELL GORDON BRILLON Columnist It’s been a tough year in Louisiana — and a long while since you could look at some economic statistics and come away smiling.

That’s why I was surprised to see some good news about our dear state in a nationwide business survey.

So here’s the good news: Louisiana is routinely rated one of the best states in the country for businesses. We were ranked sixth in Area Development magazine’s “Top States for Doing Business” poll of business consultants, largely because of our low tax rates and large amount of tax credits for different industries.

It’s a good sign that, despite all appearances, our elected officials know what they’re doing. Gov. Bobby Jindal has said time after time he wants to make Louisiana a more inviting place to do business, and professionals around the nation seem to agree he’s doing a pretty good job.

But is that necessarily a good thing for Louisianans who don’t own their own business? Another study shows that Louisiana ranks among the highest states for largest income disparity between rich and poor.

Coincidentally, we rank sixth in that, too.

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features that make Louisiana so attractive to business owners. It’s just not easy.

To his credit, Jindal has proposed one possible solution and made it his top priority for 2013.

He plans to simplify the state’s tax code by removing the numerous exemptions that businesses love and lowering the real tax rate.

While that will help everyone by making taxpaying a simpler process, there are more helpful changes that could be made.

Lowering the sales tax rate, one of the highest in the nation, and increasing income tax would take some of the burden off the poor and have everyone pay more proportionately to their income.

We’ll have to wait and see how Jindal approaches the tax code, but Louisiana’s income inequality is too big of a problem to go unnoticed.

We elect our politicians to represent the entire state. Let’s hope that next year they keep that in mind.

rather nicely to the auto industry in Michigan. In the long run, things aren’t so bad here. I know it seems like LSU is falling to pieces with administrators jumping ship for higher paychecks, but you know who stays? Those who are loyal to the University. We may be losing some figureheads, but aren’t all the little people still in place?”

- jb

Gordon Brillon is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Lincoln, R.I.

Contact Gordon Brillon at gbrillon@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_gbrillon

Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_opinion

Quote of the Day

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Mark Twain American author Nov. 30, 1835 — April 21, 1910

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012

Opinion

page 21

Technology legislation requires constant vigilance MANUFACTURING DISCONTENT DAVID SCHEUERMANN Columnist It’s been quite a year for technology-related law and digital rights.

Each season seemed to bring some new legislation or information affecting how technology interacts with our lives.

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) first sought to change the Internet for worse in January, but they were stopped in their tracks when Americans remembered what a mass movement could do.

Later, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act came on their heels in the Spring hoping to better “protect” America from cybersecurity threats by allowing companies and organizations to routinely monitor your communications and share that information with the government. Fortunately, President

Obama threatened to veto the bill, and its cousin in the Senate failed to pass.

And just last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would update the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act to mandate that the government must get a probable cause warrant before accessing your emails – which I bet you thought was already the case.

There were even victories in the courtroom, such as a case in January that ruled the government cannot place GPS tracking devices on someone’s car without first obtaining a warrant.

Yet, despite these success stories, there has also been an abundance of worrying news concerning our digital communications.

Since earlier this year, William Binney, a former National Security Agency (NSA) “cryptomathematician” with 32 years of experience under his belt, has been vocal about the agency’s domestic surveillance programs.

He’s estimated that up to 20 trillion “transactions,” or records

of digital communications, have been collected by the NSA, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and he has publicly stated he believes the agency has copies of “most” emails in the United States.

Coincidentally, James Bamford, a journalist known for his writings on the NSA, revealed in Wired magazine in March the agency is building the largest data storage center in Utah.

And just in September, the House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (FAA), a law that at least 13 senators fear created a loophole allowing for the dragnet surveillance of Americans’ communications.

With such a slew of different laws and rulings affecting our lives in the digital realm, it is easy to lose track of what is happening.

However, staying up-to-date on these matters is paramount if we hope to protect our rights, and the victory against SOPA/PIPA is evidence for this.

There is no doubt in my

mind that if SOPA and PIPA were not subject to a vast education campaign, they would have passed. Once people finally understood what was happening, they began expressing their disapproval to their Congressmen.

And when those Congressmen saw how much their constituents disapproved of the bills, SOPA and PIPA lost support quickly.

Democratic willpower saved the Internet, one of our most important innovations, from being fundamentally changed.

Unfortunately, there won’t always be education campaigns for bills.

Most of the time, we’ll have to exercise some democratic vigilance to keep laws that could harm us from passing and to create bills to protect our rights.

Yet, our power as voices in a democracy will never falter.

For one, we can vote for those who have proven themselves capable of protecting our liberties, unlike the last election in which every single Representative reelected in Louisiana voted to

reauthorize the FAA. And even with these men in power, it is still possible to affect their decisions by pressuring them to protect our rights from violations by our government.

The FAA reauthorization still has to pass the Senate in December.

If we can pressure our Senators to withhold reauthorizing the bill or at least amend it to protect our privacy, then maybe our digital rights can see another victory this year.

Maybe we can continue into the 21st century utilizing the capabilities new technologies grant us without sacrificing our liberties along the way.

David Scheuermann is a 20year-old mass communication and computer science junior from Kenner.

Contact David Scheuermann at dscheuermann@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_dscheu

Global change and national stagnation mark 2012 politics BLUE-EYED DEVIL NICHOLAS PIERCE Columnist I knew 2012 was going to be an odd one when I watched Kim Jong Il’s casket pass through the packed streets of Pyongyang last December.

As the throngs of North Koreans prostrated themselves and wept, I remember thinking: Ah, there goes one of the greats.

First Osama bin Laden, then Moammar Gadaffi and now Kim Jong Il? This generation is running out of iconic villains.

Luckily for us, Vladimir Putin bought himself another election in May and United Artists remade “Red Dawn.”

We started 2012 in a funk, the economy was still puttering along and we were acutely aware this was an election year — Washington had virtually shut down, and nothing was getting accomplished.

Watching the 2012 election was like seeing a crappy sitcom get picked up for another season: Barack Obama and Mitch McConnell, two wacky guys with polar opposite political views, living in the same house (of representatives).

I wish they would have cancelled Congress instead of “CSI: Miami,” and I don’t even like “CSI: Miami.”

For better or worse, we weren’t the only country holding

elections this year.

In May, Nicholas Sarkozy lost his job in France, paving the way for Socialist Francois Hollande, who has promised to raise income taxes on the wealthy in his country to 75 percent — still 16 percent less than what upper income taxes were under John F. Kennedy here in the U.S., but yeah, all right, Obama is still clearly a communist.

At least Sarkozy got to blow up Libya before the French gave him the boot, and he can successfully go down in history as not having the European Union crumble like a burnt tiramisu on his watch.

A month later, Egyptians put Mohammed Morsi in power, making Morsi the 2,000-year-old nation’s fifth democratically elected leader.

Morsi promptly ran up the state credit card and took out a massive IMF loan, and just last week he made the presidency more powerful than the judiciary.

If history is to be our guide, we probably won’t be seeing Egypt’s sixth democratically elected president until 2042.

Elsewhere, the People’s Communist Party of China met to appoint a new hive-mind/overlord for the P.R.C. But elections haven’t been the only thing to make the international headlines in 2012.

The U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked September 11, resulting in the deaths of four Americans, including Christopher Stevens — one of the United

CAROLYN KASTER / The Associated Press

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton wave as they arrive at Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, on Air Force One Nov. 19.

States’ most prolific and effective ambassadors in recent memory, may he rest in peace.

Sadly, the manufactured controversy over whether or not the president classified that incident as a terrorist attack in a timely fashion seems to have eclipsed the loss of four of our best and brightest.

Syrians continue to butcher one another; I suppose that puts Bashar al-Assad in the running as next year’s villain-inchief, although there hasn’t been much news coverage coming out

of Syria — I guess their civil war couldn’t compete with our Black Friday.

Last but not least, Gaza and Israel decided to end this year with a bang.

CNN was determined to report what was happening in the Gaza strip as though it were a war, but that was a hard story to spin when only one side had tanks, helicopters and smart bombs.

It seems we’re leaving 2012 in much the same shape as we found it — our economy is floundering, the government is still

stacked with the exact same people pulling the levers, and the rest of the world isn’t any better off.

Well, at least we have one another — that and plenty to talk about next semester. Happy holidays, and good luck, y’all.

Nicholas Pierce is a 22-year old history senior from Baton Rouge.

Contact Nicholas Pierce at npierce@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_nabdulpierc

The Daily Reveille

page 22

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Monday, December 3, 2012 BOWL, from page 11

to the arm and feet of quarterback Tajh Boyd, who’s thrown for 3,550 yards with a 34-13 touchdown-tointerception ratio. The Tigers were eliminated from the ACC race with an early-season loss to Orange Bowl-bound Florida State, and lost their final game to South Carolina.

EXPECTATIONS, from page 11

dropping the Saints to 5-7.

If you would have told somebody last year that LSU wouldn’t be in a featured bowl in January or that Brees completed the ball to the other team five times in a game, you would have been laughed out of the room.

But this is the harsh reality Louisiana football fans have faced in 2012 — unless for some reason you pay allegiance to Louisiana-Lafayette or Louisiana Tech, and if that’s the case, I offer my deepest condolences.

The fact of the matter is you can’t expect perfection every year.

Both LSU and the Saints had humongous hurdles to overcome to even put together the seasons they did in 2012.

LSU coach Les Miles suffered more losses than he did when LSU made it to the BCS Championship last season. The Honey Badger didn’t play a snap after being dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons, starting left tackle Chris Faulk went down for the season against Washington, starting right tackle Alex Hurst didn’t participate the rest of the season for personal reasons and running back Alfred Blue was lost for the season against Idaho.

Considering those obstacles, it’s a testament to Miles and his coaching staff for keeping this team together and finishing the season 10-2.

The only two blemishes on its schedule were to highly ranked Alabama and Florida.

Not too shabby, if you ask me.

Sure, the Saints are 5-7, and there won’t be a postseason for them.

But for this team to have that record after starting off 0-4 is an accomplishment in itself.

When I watched the Saints take the field during their terrible start, they looked uninspired to say the least. It was like they were missing their head coach.

I don’t know whether it’s the return of linebacker Jonathan Vilma or coach Joe Vitt, but something has clicked inside the New Orleans locker room.

No matter the disappointment some fans have for their Louisiana football teams, the one bright spot is they won’t let their support waver.

Though there are a great deal of bandwagon Saints and Tigers fans who jumped aboard only after recent success, there’s an even larger group of supporters who have been loyal from day one.

No, LSU and New Orleans didn’t meet the lofty expectations this goes around, but 2011 made it hard for them to live up to.

Micah Bedard is a 22-year-old history senior from Baton Rouge.

Contact Micah Bedard at mbedard@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @DardDog

LSU has won in its last five Chick-fil-A Bowl appearances, most recently in a 38-3 trouncing of Georgia Tech in 2008.

“We enjoy playing in Atlanta,” Miles said. “It’s a great city that has been very good to LSU. I’m sure that we’ll travel extremely well.”

Reaction to a return trip by LSU fans was mixed. On Twitter, some

The Daily Reveille decried the bid to what some call is a “lower-tier” bowl. Others, like former LSU running back Justin Vincent, embraced the matchup.

“LSU vs Clemson.. Death Valley vs Death Valley.. Tigers vs Tigers and all the Chick Fil A sandwiches you can handle. #Geez,” Vincent tweeted.

Current LSU players also

page 23 seemed excited.

“Chick fila [sic] here we come!!!!! #LSU,” sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Johnson tweeted.

Contact Alex Cassara at acassara@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @cassaraTDR

Read about other sports at lsureveille.com: A wrap-up of the swimming and diving, soccer and cross country seasons.

page 24

The Daily Reveille

Monday, December 3, 2012